Mary Caldwell

Gifted social scientist with superior communication skills able to educate, engage, train, guide, and mentor individuals, families, and community agencies in healthy aging or aging with a chronic disease. Thirteen years of professional history developing and implementing evidence-based educational experiences, presentations, and community programs. Areas of specialty include the application of adult educational theories to studies of human services, aging studies, lifespan development, foundations of social work, program development and evaluation, and dementia education.

Certified Information and Referral Specialist for Aging/Disability (CIRS-A/D)

Certified by The Collaborative IRB Training Initiative Program (CITI)

Board Member Georgia Gerontological Society

Committee Member Georgia Alzheimer's and Related Diseases Collaborative: Research Committee

Leadership Committee Adult Children of Aging Parents

• Portfolio and Professional Letters Available upon Request

Through formal education and professional experience, I have become adept at helping mission based agencies grow their reach through high level partnerships, innovative education, and the powerful application of communication that leverages the stories of constituents and volunteers. I easily connect with people of any age, culture, and socio-economic background cutting to the heart of the matter in a way that allows people to invest in a mission. My style is heartfelt, clear, and transparent. I am a firm believer in proactively researching to avoid communication and operational gaffes that can cause great harm to any organization but especially to nonprofits who rely on public image to elevate a mission. I am at heart a social scientist who understands deeply what motivates people and how to speak to them across modalities. My first love was writing making drafting communication and designing messages a delight instead of a chore. I have training in crisis communication and stick hard to the old 24-hour golden rule-own your mistakes and be the first to respond when trouble comes knocking at the door. I have found that earns much respect for an organization.

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I share here two Blog posts that demonstrate both my communication skills and my deep understanding of challenges in navigating chronic conditions as well as a sophisticated talent for innovative adult public health education and motivating community involvement.

Blog Post

Finding Joy in Breaking Bread

Imagine that you are a newly retired, or soon to be retired adult, with big plans for how you intend to spend your golden years traveling, perhaps with a partner, enjoying visits with family, taking time finally to truly enjoy the life you have built. Now, imagine receiving a diagnosis of dementia at this time and being told that you will experience a cognitive decline over an unknown period of time, to an unknown extent, with symptoms that are life altering and also unknown at this time. Suddenly, those long-awaited days of retirement become long waits for Neurology appointments. It seems as if the ground has shifted and the entire world changes-everything becomes about the diagnosis.

Not a scenario anyone wants to imagine, right? Pretty much everyone’s worst nightmare? Why? Well, for one thing-it is a scary diagnosis. Scary to bear, scary to hear, scary to process, and foreign as all get out to most people. This is also why people living with dementia and their care partners become at risk for isolation very early in a diagnosis.

In professional circles, a common sentiment to hear years ago was that if a person could pronounce Alzheimer’s, they were an expert. To this day, there remains a severe lack of knowledge as well as pervasive negative stigma about dementia. Thankfully, we have experienced some progress in the past decade, but it still feels like this out there in our communities-in the places we live and connect with others. Alzheimer’s is still a foreign and terrifying concept to most people. So those experiencing this journey are often left to deal with it in relative isolation.

The Alzheimer’s Association in Georgia seeks to provide meaningful interventions to offset this isolation by offering a comprehensive state-wide program for those with a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment, Early-Stage Alzheimer’s, or other related dementias. Of the twenty or more virtual programs offered each month, the most popular is always the Carpe Diem Luncheon that takes place at various restaurants in the Metro-Atlanta area on the third Wednesday of the month. We are so happy to be able to gather again in person for this event now that COVID restrictions are lifted!

Every culture has its own holidays and celebrations that mark the calendar and separate the sacred from the profane. Almost all of these celebrations, though different in origin, include a meal shared with others- a coming together around the table to break bread and share time with others. This time-honored tradition of humans gathering to break bread provides sustenance for body and soul. Our Carpe Diem, Early-Stage Luncheon offers exactly that for its members.

It is difficult to put into words the buoyant feeling of joy and connection we share at the Carpe Diem table. Do not expect a staid, proper, quiet group of retirees meeting to complain about ailments and those darn millennials. Nope. On the contrary, the friends living with dementia who meet to share Carpe Diem Luncheon are boisterous, hungry, funny- too busy connecting and catching up, making new friends, and enjoying conversation to complain.

We meet at Athens Pizza in Decatur, or Chilis in Dunwoody, or Grapevines in Dahlonega, or De Palmas in Athens, sometimes we choose something very special like Petite Violette for Valentines. Members express that the normalcy of the luncheon-the opportunity to connect with others on the same road at a common table is exactly what the doctor ordered at a time when life can get overwhelming.

In fact, this luncheon is what Alzheimer’s disease experts order. Socialization is one of the key lifestyle interventions that early-stage patients and their care partners are urged to adopt and practice along with a healthy diet, daily exercise, cognitive strategies, and lowering stress. An active lifestyle is a cognitive exercise! The members of the Georgia Chapter Early-Stage Program gave their group the name Carpe Diem because they recognize the need to seize the day and take every opportunity to connect in community in order to maintain joy in life as we age-and importantly, as we live with dementia.

Joy is not a word often associated with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. But join us at a Carpe Diem luncheon, and you will soon experience the revolutionary joy we have the audacity to share in this community we have created together. Yes, we also share support groups, and museum tours, and education classes. We do have serious conversations at times about all of the challenges and sadness that does come with any chronic diagnosis. But we also share joy, laughter, a darn good joke whenever we can.

If you, or someone you know, would like more information about the Carpe Diem Early-Stage Program of The Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter, please call our 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900. The state-wide program is designed for both the person living with dementia and their primary care partners.

Blog Post

A “Carpe Diem” Perspective on How to Holiday during 2020

Mary Caldwell, Early Stage Program Manager

Well, here we are good people- at the holiday season during one of the strangest years on record. 2020 has brought the world low and taught us exactly how crucial human connection is, especially to those living with dementia and the thousands of Georgians who stand with and care for them. As a gerontologist with the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, I manage the Carpe Diem, Early Stage Program. I can tell you it is a wonderful role that allows me to interact daily with some of the nicest Georgians you will ever meet.

When COVID-19 restrictions began in March of this year, our program immediately pivoted to a virtual platform. At first, we were all beginners in the Zoom Tech World! “I can see you, but I can’t hear you” or “No, no, please stay muted” or “Remember, we can hear you”, sometimes even a “Just click the link in the email”. Looking back to late spring, I laugh at the way we clumsily came together virtually so we could maintain our connection. We learned together, we laughed at ourselves, and we experienced gratitude for this new technology that connected us safely at a time when being together in person is not an option.

Currently the Carpe Diem Virtual Program offers about twenty opportunities per month to members ranging from “Musing Together at The High”, support groups for persons living with dementia as well as their care partners, to a monthly Lunch and Learn. The program would not be possible without a cadre of amazing and talented volunteers who facilitate the events. I often refer to our statewide early stage group as a community, because we certainly are connected in all the ways that matter. Members struggle together, laugh together, learn together, cry together and yes, learn to live with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, Mild Cognitive Impairment, or another dementia together.

During the past month or so, heading into the holiday season, we have discussed how we plan to spend the holidays. Many of the members, including myself, have children and grandchildren. Others either never had children or their children live far away. This is a diverse group in every way including age range. It is always interesting to share our individual and family traditions.

I admit, I was surprised when the overwhelming answer to “How will you all be spending the holidays”? was, “We don’t know”! But folks, there you have it. This lovely group representing women and men full of wisdom, experience, accomplishment, and expertise had no clue how to “Holiday” during a pandemic- and really, why should they? Talk about a first!

So, the question remains. How do we celebrate the 2020 holiday season when we cannot safely travel to see family, enjoy holiday meals with our families, or take part in the warm gatherings at home that mark the season? Does this mean we shouldn’t celebrate at all? Is 2020 going to rob us of this joy?

Carpe Diem members have an answer to those questions. NO! Some of my most favorite people in the world are living with dementia, or they are caring for someone living with dementia. I have learned so much from these friends who wake up each day and face uncertainty with grace, strength, humor, and gratitude. This makes me feel uniquely grateful myself to be able to share some advice for how to not just survive, but thrive, live life to the fullest and love during this crazy 2020 holiday season.

Come on and “Carpe Diem” with us through Holiday Season 2020 with these simple tips.

1) Take Care of Yourself: Don’t stop the things that keep you healthy, happy, and going strong. 2020 is a marathon not a sprint and if we don’t rest, eat healthy, and continue to take care of our minds, bodies, and souls, we won’t be here to celebrate the end of COVID-19.

2) Stay Connected: Yes, we know you have Zoom fatigue. We know you want to gather with your people in person. We want that, too. Everyone wants that. But, really, wishing it won’t make it happen and it may just add to risk of depression and certainly will keep you from completely enjoying the ways we can stay connected. Make those Zoom plans to meet for the holidays, but also think about scheduling a coffee chat, or meeting for a virtual lunch. One of our grandfathers living with dementia has zoom reading time with his grandson and they love it! Set that laptop on the kitchen counter and bake cookies together. The essence of Carpe Diem is seizing the moment and focusing on what we can do- Not what we cannot do.

3) Lean into the Joy of Everyday Things: One of our care partners found a new passion on her daily walks with her husband who is living with early stage Alzheimer’s. They both began to notice the beauty in their Sandy Spring’s neighborhood- the flowers, grass, leaves, the other people in the park. This inspired her to begin photographing that beauty and making the most interesting leaf art, which I know will be treasured gifts for her family this holiday. Lean into the good feelings for those will carry you through the rough patches. Be dedicated to recognizing the good. We magnify the things to which we give focus.

4) Let Go of Expectations: Go ahead and bring out all your favorite decorations, watch “It’s a Wonderful Life”, cook a turkey, make those homemade latkes, sing carols, watch the Macy’s Day Parade. Or don’t. Look, if we are honest, holidays are lovely, but they are also stressful and full of expectations that we pile on ourselves and others. 2020 gives you complete permission to go as far or as little as you like this year. Some Carpe Diem members have their decorations up already while others say they are giving it a rest this year. We have folks eating steak dinners and tacos while others are making traditional cornbread dressing. Have a discussion with you about you and ask yourself, what do I really want to do this holiday- then surprise yourself and do it!